Raj TV plans to launch Kannada news channel

Raj News Kannada

Chennai-based Raj Television Network (RTN) plans to launch a Kannada-language news channel in April, to be followed by a general entertainment channel (GEC) by the end of FY'10.

The news channel will be called Raj News Kannada. "We have obtained all the clearances and are launching the news channel in April. The Kannada GEC will take time, but we have started acquiring content for it. We hope to launch it by the end of the next fiscal," says founder-promoter Rajendran.

RTN forayed into the Karnataka television market space with the formal launch of Raj Musix Kannada on 6 March. Arvind Kumar, earlier with Zee, has been appointed as the channel CEO.

Targeted at the upward mobile class in the age group of 14-24, and with an initial investment of close to Rs 40 million, the channel hopes to break even in three years.

Raj Musix has tied up with MQ Networks, a Bangalore-based 360 degree media company, to provide them with the entire content and management.

Shares of Raj TV ended 4.26 per cent up on the BSE.